Asking someone out by Email

I have been pondering the notion of asking out a former TA of mine. She was in charge of the lab in which I was enrolled last quarter. Though I never really talked to her, I did catch her gaze a few times. I didn't think asking someone out while in the subordinate position of TA and student, was a very good idea, and it may even have violated a university policy. Since I don't have her number or anything, I would have to contact her through her official email address. I am leaning against this for a few reasons: she might be weirded out; might be not happy that I am contacting her this way; the fact she doesn't really know me; maybe she thinks I'm desperate. Further I think she is stunningly beautiful and possibly she has had to deal with this before.

I also figure I won’t be going out with her if don’t email her for certain and if she says no nothing really changes, I am still not going out with her. I only have the potential to gain from this should she say yes. At any rate perhaps I am just thinking too much about this and should just do it.

I have been pondering the notion of asking out a former TA of mine. She was in charge of the lab in which I was enrolled last quarter. Though I never really talked to her, I did catch her gaze a few times. I didn't think asking someone out while in the subordinate position of TA and student, was a very good idea, and it may even have violated a university policy. Since I don't have her number or anything, I would have to contact her through her official email address. I am leaning against this for a few reasons: she might be weirded out; might be not happy that I am contacting her this way; the fact she doesn't really know me; maybe she thinks I'm desperate. Further I think she is stunningly beautiful and possibly she has had to deal with this before.

I also figure I won’t be going out with her if don’t email her for certain and if she says no nothing really changes, I am still not going out with her. I only have the potential to gain from this should she say yes. At any rate perhaps I am just thinking too much about this and should just do it.

Asking someone out with Email is plain stupid. You say:

Since I don't have her number or anything, I would have to contact her through her official email address. I am leaning against this for a few reasons: she might be weirded out; might be not happy that I am contacting her this way; the fact she doesn't really know me; maybe she thinks I'm desperate. Further I think she is stunningly beautiful and possibly she has had to deal with this before.

I think you just answered your own question. Yes, it *is* weird, unusual, and frankly quite a deterrent for a good relationship. Just what is it you want to ask?

I'd say it's a bit creepy to email her out of the blue with no prior social interaction, though some women are actually endeared by men who kinda go "out of their way."

I'd say your best bet is to find reasons to be where she is. If she studies in the library, or hangs out in a student lounge, find (relatively legitimate) reasons to be there, too -- then strike up a real conversation with her. After you've gotten to know each other a bit, your proposition will be a lot more likely to succeed.

If she was a good TA, you might even thank her for her help, and ask if you could swing by her office sometime and ask some questions about your current classes. You just want to find some way to encourage your "paths" to cross again here and there, to give you some opportunity to build some rapport with her.

I go with the "creepy" vote too. If a former student emailed me out of the blue to ask me on a date, I'd probably not only be weirded out, but would be sending a copy to my dept chair or a dean or something just to protect myself from any potential harrassment accusations, or any sort of accusations of impropriety.

I go with the "creepy" vote too. If a former student emailed me out of the blue to ask me on a date, I'd probably not only be weirded out, but would be sending a copy to my dept chair or a dean or something just to protect myself from any potential harrassment accusations, or any sort of accusations of impropriety.

Sounds like someone has done that before
And it looks like you are mentally prepared this time and waiting for such a case to happen..Is it?

I have been pondering the notion of asking out a former TA of mine. She was in charge of the lab in which I was enrolled last quarter. Though I never really talked to her, I did catch her gaze a few times. I didn't think asking someone out while in the subordinate position of TA and student, was a very good idea, and it may even have violated a university policy. Since I don't have her number or anything, I would have to contact her through her official email address. I am leaning against this for a few reasons: she might be weirded out; might be not happy that I am contacting her this way; the fact she doesn't really know me; maybe she thinks I'm desperate. Further I think she is stunningly beautiful and possibly she has had to deal with this before.

I also figure I won’t be going out with her if don’t email her for certain and if she says no nothing really changes, I am still not going out with her. I only have the potential to gain from this should she say yes. At any rate perhaps I am just thinking too much about this and should just do it.

What you can do is plan...

Do you know who is her guide proffesor...and what are the areas in which TA expertises in...Just in talking to proffesor,show your interest in that respective field and ask him which students are working under him...
And then mail her..asking queries and finally she herself will ask you to meet you..

Or you yourself can think something new and experiment ,,i just wish you have enormous confidence

Sounds like someone has done that before
And it looks like you are mentally prepared this time and waiting for such a case to happen..Is it?

To me? No. But it has happened to others...not necessarily by email, but a student becoming infatuated and then causing trouble when they don't take rejection well, so at the first sign of something like that, you have to protect yourself.

I have been pondering the notion of asking out a former TA of mine. . . . . Though I never really talked to her, . . .

Stop right there!

For the first time, I would ask a woman in person. BUT,

I would have actually talk with her, and likely several times, before asking her out on a date.

There is the matter of the TA/student relationship. So better to talk with her on a casual basis, without any expectation of a date. She might already have an interest in someone else, which would preclude a date.

There's nothing wrong or weird about asking someone out by e-mail in and of itself. The reason I'm sure it won't work in this case is that you aren't confident about it. That nervousness is going to get into your e-mail and signal to her that you're confused about whether it's even appropriate or not.

I'd completely forget about her if I were you, unless you have some burst of confidence that impells you to ask her out without really caring if she accepts or not.

There's nothing wrong or weird about asking someone out by e-mail in and of itself. The reason I'm sure it won't work in this case is that you aren't confident about it. That nervousness is going to get into your e-mail and signal to her that you're confused about whether it's even appropriate or not.

I'd completely forget about her if I were you, unless you have some burst of confidence that impells you to ask her out without really caring if she accepts or not.

Rubbish.knowing the person's face (the one whos asking you out) personality, or general who they are is absolutely essential in starting a good relationship. I don't care if there are example of 'internet dating' around. If at any opportunity you can speak to her/him, it is a MUCH better choice to just go to her and ask her/him out.

To me? No. But it has happened to others...not necessarily by email, but a student becoming infatuated and then causing trouble when they don't take rejection well, so at the first sign of something like that, you have to protect yourself.

Protect..:surprised

Well believe me ,if i have seen the inverse case also happening .....when i was in school in my final year,,i never gave importance to one teacher...and she was after me,,she used to observe me,,always trying to talk to me and finally when she got success in attracting me,,then she strated ignoring me..Women are harder to understand.............They say something ,think something and do something..

knowing the person's face (the one whos asking you out) personality, or general who they are is absolutely essential in starting a good relationship.

Straw man, Mr. Rubbish. We're talking about a situation where they already have a previous face to face acquaintance.

I don't care if there are example of 'internet dating' around.

What does this have to do with the situation under discussion, Mr. Rubbish?

If at any opportunity you can speak to her/him, it is a MUCH better choice to just go to her and ask her/him out.

I believe what I said was that there's nothing wrong with an e-mail per-se, not that it was the preferred method. In fact, it's going to fail either way because of his relatively desperate attitude, not because of doing it by e-mail. On the other hand I am positive a well worded e-mail to a former acquaintance CAN get someone a date.